A real shame. (Warning: Graphic photo.)

[Luminide]

My muscovy hen is working on her first clutch, and it has not been going well. First the other ducks disturbed her nest, so she moved it, losing three eggs. Now I checked on her eggs myself, and noticed one had a crack. I was excited! Well, the hen ripped the egg out of my hand and bit into it- purposely. Before I could stop her, she pulled the baby out.

I'm really frustrated. She was incubating a few different types of eggs, but this particular one was her own genes. It looks like a little blue pied muscovy. The little guy was moving and even took a few breaths, but it seems he's passed on now...

 

[lightchick]

Aww too bad! Is the chick dead now?

 

[Luminide]

It seems so, yeah. He was still alive when the picture was taken, but seemed to pass a few moments after.

 

[lightchick]

Aww.

 

[Reurra]

That is so sad when that happens!!

 

[Luminide]

Hn, it really is. This is my first fetal loss. I'd be more ok with it if I understood why my muscovy (Abba) ripped the egg out of my hand and destroyed it. She's been really motherly to these eggs aside from that moment...

 

[flynntheduck]

I'm guessing just because you touched it. Animals are weird like that. Poor baby.

 

[smonkeySK]

Likely she was trying to protect the egg and did the opposite by accident. All mothers have different temperaments; it's a shame, but going the natural route doesn't always pay off.
Sorry for your loss but don't blame yourself

 

[Luminide]

That'd make since...it seems my girl's temperament is extremely passive aggressive, until she can't take it...She had showed no signs of disliking me touching the eggs, until that moment. Hn. Thank you, though. At least I learned something today. Hopefully next time I can read her better.

 

[smonkeySK]

It may not even have been that - she could just have been going for the egg as it 'caught' her eye - like chickens with shiny objects!
Either way it's the same solution you'll have already worked out - either leave her to it or be extra careful around the eggs; maybe only inspect when she gets up for a stretch!
Good luck with the rest of them and let us know how she gets on with it